About Us

Renee is one of the founding members of the Mad FORCs and has served as the club president since the club formed. She also is the coordinator of the Women's Dirt Retreat.

Renee did not seem destined to be an athlete early in life as she often flunked physical education class in high school and didn't properly learn to ride a bike until college. However, never one to let a lack of skill stand in her way she did her first race in the fall of 1990 and placed 6th out of 6. Not seeing this as an omen of things to come she has continued to race ever since.

For FORCs member Kathy Janda her first "mountain bike" wasn't even a real mountain bike.

"I had this 10 speed when I was a kid and really liked to take it on the grass and stuff," says Kathy. "Unfortunately, that kind of trashed it." Kathy moved up to a "heavy, old Huffy" in college before finally moving up to the beautiful Yo Betty she rides now. Kathy started mountain biking seriously in 1994 and has been a member since 1995.

Berlie comes to Wisconsin by way of Texas where she attended UW-Madison to attend graduate school. After finishing her degree she decided Madison wasn't half bad and has stayed on riding and racing her bike with the Mad FORCs.

Berlie is also the Mad FORCs Race Team Coordinator so if you want to know about the team, are interested in signing up for 24-9 or have an idea or suggestion for how to improve the team let Berlie know.

Melissa Suzuki - Meeting Coordinator

Melissa works as a scientist and stays busy playing with her two sons. She also finds time to get out mountain biking and has been a FORC for several years.